Searching for a Town Administrator Search Committee

Applicants represent a broad range of Charlestown interests

By Will Collette

NOTE: the links to committee applicants have been repaired. If you have trouble linking to those documents, please send us an e-mail.


One of the left-over agenda items from the June 11 Town Council meeting due to be handled at the June 25^th continuation is the choice of a group of citizens to review applications and vet applicants who want to be Charlestown’s next Town Administrator.

Personally, I think the search, and certainly the selection, should wait. There are, after all, only 140 days to the November election and as the philosopher Alex Trebek often says, “that’s when the scores can really change.”

But don't be surprised if the CCA (Charlestown Citizens Alliance) controlled Town Council majority wants to push to make the hire before they leave. It seems that the entire CCA agenda is in hyper-drive, as if this is their last chance to leave their mark.

That person would replace Bill DiLibero who was forced out by a vicious campaign of character assassination by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance and its allies, as well as others, including Council member Lisa DiBello and her allies who were also gunning for DiLibero.

After the notorious “Kill Bill” campaign and the notoriously short career life expectancy of C-Town’s chief exec, it will be interesting to see who applies.

But Town Administrators and Managers tend to be a pretty tough breed who frequently change jobs, often because they have to. Even those town executives who keep their heads down and try not to offend anyone eventually wear out their welcome.

So in Charlestown, we prepare for our regular and frequent ritual of seeing who we can hire who can meet the wildly varied political, social and economic interests of the citizen searchers who must then present their recommendations to the Town Council for the final decision to hire.

The last Charlestown Town Administrator, the one that recommended Bill DiLibero, consisted of 15 members. This time, there are 19 applicants.

Here they are. Note: the links are Clerkbase links to their application for this positions, often with an attached resume.

Ron Areglado

Ronald J. Areglado. The first applicant listed on the Town Council agenda, Areglado has become a frequent fixture at Council meetings. Part of the Ill Wind RI anti-wind energy NIMBY group. An educator holding a Ph.D., Areglado has been school principal at many schools, include Charlestown Elementary and staffed a national educational organization in Washington, DC. He lists his current occupation as “President, Center for Ethical and Moral Leadership.” I found no listing for that organization in the RI Secretary of State’s database or Westlaw. Could be an unincorporated association.

Susan H. Ogle, Ms. Ogle lists her occupation as “corporate training consultant.”

Sean White, He lists his occupation as software engineer. He currently serves on the Affordable Housing Commission.

Christopher J. Sheehan, Sheehan was a bank vice-president and notes that he served on the last four Town Administrator Search Committees.

Richard H. Hosp, Retired, Hosp served on the 2008-10 Town Council as a CCA endorsed member until he was “excommunicated” by the CCA for the heresy of voting for the Whalerock industrial wind farm. He currently serves on the Budget Commission. His son David is a best-selling mystery writer who was named by recently retired Police Chief Jack Shippee as his favorite author. 

Peter W. Arnold, Arnold notes on his application that he was a banker for 50 years. He is also one of Charlestown’s scions and a pretty well known figure.

Richard Sartor

Richard J. Sartor, Speaking of well-known figures, Sartor was former Charlestown Town Administrator himself, after retiring as long-time town manager in Manchester, CT. According to Council member Lisa DiBello’s lawsuit, DiBello v. Charlestown, Sartor was responsible for starting a 5-year conspiracy against her. DiBello is also accusing Sartor of recruiting DiLibero to come to Charlestown for higher pay, in return for which, DiLibero allegedly promised to fire DiBello. Sartor currently heads the town’s Budget Commission.

Janice Falcone, Janice Falcone is the owner and proprietor of Charlestown’s historic treasure, the recently reopened General Stanton Inn. She is currently serving on the Economic Improvement Commission.

Anne M. Irons, Irons lists her occupation as Narragansett Town Clerk. I’ll bet she has some stories to tell about the very recent termination of Narragansett’s Town Manager Grady Miller.

Leo Mainelli

Leone Mainelli, A founding member and Treasurer of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA). Mainelli retired to Charlestown after working as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut.

Janice Carlson, Carlson is an R.N. She lists her occupation as “court advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Arthur R. Ganz, Ganz is a retired marine biologist and is currently serving as President of the Salt Pond Coalition.

David R. Bailey, Bailey does not list a lot of detail on his application, saying he used to be in health care. He is currently serving on the Budget Commission.

Dr. Dolph Santiello, Dr. Santiello is not the go-to guy if you have a stomach ache – his doctorate is in Public Administration. He lists his current occupation as “consultant and instructor.” Santiello is a Sonquipaug resident.

Vaughn P. Ballard, Ballard is one of two Town employees to apply for this committee. He is a sergeant on the Charlestown Police Department. Editor's note - I have been told my two readers that Sgt Ballard is retired although this is not mentioned in his application (see linked document).

Stephen Hoff, Hoff is a CPA and a frequent speaker at Town Council meetings, usually on financial issues. He lists his current occupation as “Scrutineer.”

J. Lawrence Dunn, In the interest of full disclosure, Dr. Dunn is our veterinarian. He was elected and re-elected numerous times to Planning Commission. He was an articulate defender of the Frosty Drew Observatory during the dark sky lighting ordinance debate. He also helps the Mystic Aquarium’s very cool Marine Mammal Rescue center.

JoAnne Santos. Santos is the second Town employee to apply for this committee. The first is Police sergeant Vaughn Ballard. Santos is Charlestown Tax Collector.

Steven Santos. This Santos is the spouse of the other Santos. He is the manager of Wyoming Auto Parts.

By and large, this is a distinguished group of prospective committee members, many with long years of service to the town or outstanding professional backgrounds and in some cases, both.

We need as good a Town Administrator as we can get so I again wonder if now is a good time to recruit before the dust and smoke of the “Kill Bill” campaign has settled.

Yes, of course life goes on and the show must go on, but with elections so close, what’s the rush?

If a new Town Administrator is hired in a hurry, that person will almost certainly face a very different Town Council in November. Given the current Council’s record of trouble and turmoil, we may see a whole lot of new faces come November.

People in the market for town executive jobs know that job security is often tied to elections and we may not get the best applicants now, since they face the uncertainty of November. Nobody likes to start a new job and be told not to bother to unpack your boxes.